Mt. Whitney and Horseshoe Meadow loop
Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 8:42 am
We dayhiked Mt. Whitney on Labor Day and followed up with a nice loop around Horseshoe Meadow on Thursday.
The portal waterfall is always a welcome sight.
Sunrise at 13,000 feet. That's Venus in the upper right.
The moon was 2 days past full. It is the perfect time to hike at night because the moon will be well placed to light the trail all night.
The moon sets behind Trail Crest.
The Hitchcock Lakes mean that the trudge up the switchbacks is over.
Happy hikers on the summit.
A dry air mass had moved through. The views to the west were the clearest that we had ever seen.
Whitney sawteeth.
Guitar Lake.
On Thursday, we hiked from the Cottonwood Pass trailhead to Cottonwood Pass, then to Trail Pass,
and return making for a big loop around Horseshoe Meadow. Beautiful country.
A grouse let us take his picture.
Leaving the meadow, we hiked into the woods.
Looking back at Horseshoe Meadow.
View west from Cottonwood Pass.
Looking south towards Mulkey Meadow.
As we approached Trail Peak, we heard a bellowing sound. It must be a rabid bear!
I fully expected to be torn limb from limb. It turned out to be a herd of cows being pastured at Poison Meadow.
Mt. Langley popped into view.
Back to Horseshowe Meadow.
The portal waterfall is always a welcome sight.
Sunrise at 13,000 feet. That's Venus in the upper right.
The moon was 2 days past full. It is the perfect time to hike at night because the moon will be well placed to light the trail all night.
The moon sets behind Trail Crest.
The Hitchcock Lakes mean that the trudge up the switchbacks is over.
Happy hikers on the summit.
A dry air mass had moved through. The views to the west were the clearest that we had ever seen.
Whitney sawteeth.
Guitar Lake.
On Thursday, we hiked from the Cottonwood Pass trailhead to Cottonwood Pass, then to Trail Pass,
and return making for a big loop around Horseshoe Meadow. Beautiful country.
A grouse let us take his picture.
Leaving the meadow, we hiked into the woods.
Looking back at Horseshoe Meadow.
View west from Cottonwood Pass.
Looking south towards Mulkey Meadow.
As we approached Trail Peak, we heard a bellowing sound. It must be a rabid bear!
I fully expected to be torn limb from limb. It turned out to be a herd of cows being pastured at Poison Meadow.
Mt. Langley popped into view.
Back to Horseshowe Meadow.
